PORT HARCOURT—The Rivers State Government has introduced Business Clinic (BC), an aspect of its Business Capacity Building Initiatives, says it is to empower Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) for economic activities.

The state government in conjunction with SPROG Consultants has started a Business Clinic programme which they said is targeted towards improving and empowering the SMEs in their business activities.

The Director of SMEs in the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Akara Joe Olakenso at the official inauguration of the scheme said the Business Clinic introduced by the ministry is to aid the SMEs improve in their activities.

Akara said “It is important that the SMEs which contribute a lot in the area of providing employment for the teaming youths to be encouraged in order  to create more employment   opportunities; to reduce the problem of unemployment.”

Meantime, the state government through its Ministry of Commerce and Industry has promised to empower 3000 SMEs before the end of its tenure.

The state Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chuma Chinye who spoke said through the Business Clinic the state government will ensure it empowers over 3000 SMEs by providing capacity building programmes that will educates entrepreneurs before the end of their.

Chinye noting that the SMEs contribute over 75 percent of employment force in the state and the country at large said the ministry will provide effective programmes that will give basic knowledge to SMEs.

“The scheme is to bridge the total disconnected between the ministry and the business community. SME segment drives the economy. It accounts for over 75% of employment and GDP, but most of the people who drive the economy do not know how to drive and that is the bases for this scheme.”

“They do business without knowing the basic principles that govern business. On this note, we decided to provide this scheme for actual training of the Business owners in the state. We want to empower about 3000 people so that they can drive our economy properly.”